Yoohoo from Northern Ontario..

AranMC 1/12/2012, 6:53 pm

Hi, I joined a few days ago, I'm approximately 3.5 hrs north of Toronto...

I am not new to gardening although I am new to SFG... my book arrived today, bought on Tuesday, shipped on Wednesday and arrived on Thursday, got to love Amazon.ca...

I am so looking forward to this years growing season, we're converting my old chicken shed and run into my potting shed and new veggy garden, I already have one garden where I'll be growing Tomatoes, Peppers, Eggplants and Jerusalem Artichokes along with Summer Squash...

Nice to meet you all....

Aran

Windsor.Parker 1/13/2012, 12:02 am

Aran,
I too am new to this interesting, lively, and informative SFG forum.
Let's see... 8-9 hour drive from here to Northern Ontario?
Do you have pics? Here's one of mine:

Happy Gardening
Lee

Goosegirl 1/13/2012, 6:56 am

Happy Reading, Lee! I loved the pics you posted in one of the other threads. Look forward to seeing more come spring!
GG

**RoOsTeR** 1/13/2012, 8:02 am

Hi AranMC, welcome to the forum, and we are looking forward to having you join us this gardening season! Everything makes so much more sense when you have taken the time to read the book. You are a step ahead already. Very Happy

AranMC 1/13/2012, 4:41 pm

This is an aerial view of where I live.... In a log cabin with hubby, father in law, 10 rescue cats and one Katie the 93lb lapdog that thinks she's a cat....

Windsor.Parker 1/13/2012, 5:49 pm

and we complain about too much shade in our back yard... Embarassed

AranMC 1/13/2012, 6:23 pm

PlumPudding 1/17/2012, 6:59 pm

Hi Aran,

I'm in Ontario as well, I wouldn't call it Northern but we're no where near Toronto either. We're about 2 hours west of Ottawa, near Algonquin Park. Welcome to the forum!

PlumPudding

claudettedeschamps 3/27/2012, 12:38 pm

Have visited or called every nursery in our area (Sudbury). Could not find coarse vermiculite only Schultz vermiculite which is fine. Read that coarse is the size of a pea. Want to start SFG (I have my book) but need the vermiculite 1st.

quiltbea 3/27/2012, 12:44 pm

Welcome to both northeners. We have something in common, a short growing season also here in Maine USA. Hope you find that SFG works for you as it did me. Welcome and get gardening!

AranMC 3/27/2012, 1:14 pm

A lot of people can't find vermiculite, I can find it but too darned expensive, $40+ a bag, not paying that... I'm south of Sudbury, about an hour south of North Bay...
If you can't find vermiculite (do you have a Lowes near you? They sell it) most people go 1 third peat/2 thirds mixed composts.... I'm going that route.
Aran

**camprn** 3/27/2012, 5:52 pm

Can you get perlite, that is perfectly acceptable substitute for the vermiculite. Very Happy

AranMC 3/27/2012, 6:47 pm

Perlite is $12 for a small bag here in the North Bay area of Ontario... Works out more expensive than vermiculite...

Aran

**camprn** 3/27/2012, 7:00 pm

Try a local mom and pop green house, maybe they buy in bulk and can sell some to you cheaper. Just a thought.

**camprn** 3/27/2012, 7:02 pm

My first year and few beds I ended up using BM8 because I could not find the vermiculite... It's a grow mix of perlite and sphagnum moss. Some of the mixes are made with fine vermiculite instead.

claudettedeschamps 3/27/2012, 8:30 pm

Thanks- might try 1/3 peat & 2/3 compost. (This is my 1st blog & hopefully I will get the hang of it)

A group from a community garden were able to order a palette of coarse vermiculite & sold the extra to members of their community. They have had great success with SFG. They recommended a fish compost from Manitoulin Island. I do not have the name at the moment but will post it.

**camprn** 3/27/2012, 8:35 pm

I have used lobster compost. LOVE IT! Very Happy

claudettedeschamps 3/27/2012, 8:36 pm

Shultz Vermiculite ( small bags ) are available but I read the coarse is the size of a pea. The Vermiculite in the Shultz bag seems more like a medium.I will try Lowes next week.

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Yoohoo from Northern Ontario..

Yoohoo from Northern Ontario..

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I have pics...lol

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Newbie from Northern Ontario

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vermiculite substitute

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Shultz vermiculite

Re: Yoohoo from Northern Ontario..


	Hello Guest! Welcome to the official Square Foot Gardening Forum. There's lots to learn here by reading as a guest. However, if you become a member (it's free, ad free and spam-free) you'll have access to our large vermiculite databases, our seed exchange spreadsheets, Mel's Mix calculator, and many more members' pictures in the Gallery. Enjoy.